The Sunday herald., 1887-01-23
AN UNPLAYED PLAY.

1t is, perhaps, not generally known that
Mr.. Clemens, otherwise known as Mark
Twain, wrote some time ago sequel or con-
tinuation of Col. Ssllers's adventures as set
forth in the play Of the "Gilded Age." This
sequel was also in dramatic form and dealt
with the inimitable Sellers as he was imsg-
ined to bs and to act ten years after the con-
cusion of tue first play. Hewas represented
AZ the same old Colonel, with the difference
that he had transferred his attention from
sys.water and similar matters to inventions,
always of such q character, OF course, that
they would recommend themselves TO the
necessities Of tens Of thousands of purchasers
and bring innumsrable millions OF dollars to
the pockets of the inventor and the investor
the intelligent capitalist who would be wise
enough to put up the few necessary but
paltry thousands required to place the in
v-ntion properly before the public. This
accomplished, all that the investor aud the
inventor would have to do would be TO sit
in their gorgsously appointed Offices in Wall
street and gather up the showers OF silver
certificates which an eager thropg of pur-
chasers would insist on scattering around
them. II will bs readily ssen that the ma
tsrial was essentially farcical. Mark Twain
went into II partly, 1t Is understood, because
of a little pique against Raymond, and
satisfactory pecuniary returns which had
flowed from the first dramatic venture.
The great humorist, however, did not think
he could write a play himself, so he cast
around him for acolla borateur. He selected
Mr.. Howels, probably because Mr.. Howells's
books were as little dramatic as books could
possibly he made. The selection was, Of
course, another illustration of Twain's mimi
table humor. II was made on the old John
Madison Morton principle enunciated in one
Of his most successful farces.
"liave you strawberry mark on your
armG"
"No,n
"Then you are indeed my long-lost
| brother I"
Mr.. IIowells metaphorically jumped at
the chance of collaborating with the expert.
enued dramatist who had written the sue.
cessiul play of the "dilded Age" and mat
ters We're speedily arranged. Mr.. Ilowells
had an absorbing ambition TO figure as a
draniatist, and here was an opportunity to
begin such career under very favorable
circumstances. II is understood that Mr..
Howells packed his gripsack almost imme-
diatsly after the fact of the collaboration
had been fixed up by correspondence and
hied him to the humorisps quaint but
beautiful abode in Hartford. Mr.. Twain
| hau lHe urAmatlc iover III MIN very btrOng
at the time and he welcomed his gifted
friend of microscopic literary methods with
the hearty eausion that in his early days
was usual on the Mississippi River. but
little time, however, was spent in formali-
ties. Mr.. llowells seated himself at a small
but exquisitey carved rosewood desk OF
ancient pattern, which the hunorist had es.
pecially purchased for him, and the work OF
building drama round about futile and
uproariously funny Edison was entered
upon. Two months were spent in this task
and the testimony of the visitors to the
house during this period-ths autograph
hunters who wanted the nalues of two dis
tinguished men written ON one sheet o
paper, the book canvasspr aud tho light
ming rod man-is TO the ELECT that the out,
ward aspects of this unique literary oollab
Grafton was amusing and instructive to the
last degree Mr.. Howells sat at the rose
wood desk with his gifted gold pen poised
in the air, while the author OF "lnnooenti
Abroad" paced the floor debating to hi